Sheriff warns of scam

PRINCETON — Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson has issued a scam alert dealing with emails allegedly sent by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to private citizens.

Thompson said a local resident has contacted him about an email received, supposedly from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The initials “FBI” are prominently displayed within the document and are intended to try to establish credibility for the recipient, but that’s not the reality, the sheriff said.

“I encourage our citizens of Bureau County and the adjacent communities to simply delete any documents of this nature,” Thompson said.

The email in question claims that it comes from the anti-terrorist and monetary crimes division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D.C. The email also claims the “FBI” is seeking to help protect the citizen from a possible scam.

The email is as follows:

“ATTENTION FUND BENEFICIARY

“This is an official advice from the FBI foreign remittance/telegraph department. It has come to our notice that the C.B.N Bank Nigeria district has released 5,300,000.00 US dollars into Bank of America in your name as the beneficiary by inheritance means.

“The C.B.N Bank Nigeria knowing fully well that they do not have enough facilities to effect this payment from the united kingdom into your account, used what we know as a secret Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer Certificate (DIST CERTIFICATE) to transfer these fund via wire transfer.

“Now get back to us as soon as possible so we can direct you on what next to do immediately for your own safety and the welfare of the people.”

Thompson said the senders of such email lead to organized crime sources outside of the United States, and little can be done to bring these individuals to justice.

Concerning this and other scams, Thompson reminded Bureau County residents that the local law enforcement agencies remain available to help and guide citizens in questions of this nature.